Geopolitical Significance Research Articles

Coastline changes under natural and anthropogenic drivers in a macro-tidal estuary between 2000-2020

Coastline changes in estuarine areas can result from a combination of natural processes such as erosion, sedimentation, and sea-level rise, as well as human activities, including urbanization and infrastructure development. These changes have the potential to affect the local environment, including submarine groundwater discharge, wetlands, and navigation routes. The Yalu River Estuary (YRE), situated on the border between China and North Korea, has been experiencing significant changes in its coastline over recent years. This study aims to investigate the coastline dynamics in the YRE from 2000 to 2020. The study employs Landsat 5/7/8 satellite data and proposes a modified Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI) to accurately delineate the coast boundary, particularly in areas with extensive tidal flats like the YRE. The research findings indicate that from 2010 to 2020, significant changes occurred in the YRE shoreline, with erosion being the dominant trend. Human activities and alternations in hydrological conditions are important factors affecting the YRE coastline changes, contributing to the formation of distinctive spatiotemporal patterns. An extreme flooding event in the year 2010 also altered the inner estuarine coastline in the YRE, indicating the impact of strong natural drivers. Findings from this study provide a comprehensive understanding of the evolving coastal environment, considering natural and anthropogenic drivers, and highlight the importance of continuous monitoring in a region of ecological and geopolitical significance.

Zbigniew Brzezinski’s perspective on the geostrategic and geopolitical importance of Ukraine

The aim of this article was to portray the complexity of the crisis/war in Ukraine, an event that has shaken Europe more than any other since World War II. The complexity of the crisis could be located in the involvement of external powers (Russia, US, NATO, EU, Turkey, etc.). Zbigniew Brzezinski throws light on the geopolitical significance of Ukraine in the context of the tendency of great powers to secure dominance in Eurasia. Brzezinski assigned Ukraine as a “pivotal” figure on the “Eurasian chessboard” due to its vital geostrategic position, major resources, access to the Black Sea, and importance for Russian strategic interests. In terms of a realist perspective and geopolitical thoughts, Brzezinski’s writings still represent a valuable asset in the analysis of the current crisis in Ukraine.

Theorising the postcoloniality of contemporary architecture: a perspective from urban maritime Asia

ABSTRACT This paper concentrates on architectural epistemology, which has been dominated by Western intellectualism for a long time. Consequently, those “non-Western” built phenomena often occupy two positions in the global theoretical map. Whilst one is being subordinated in a Western-centric context, the other is being isolated from such a context. Both forms, however, display either the surfaced or twisted meaning of such a subject. Such innocence and misunderstanding, I argue, are imposed by a binary knowledge system rooted in the West. I intend to seek an alternative and adaptative way of achieving an understanding. The rising geopolitical significance of Asia and its role as the 2020 global pandemic’s origin draw attention to the region – not only empirically, but also theoretically. In this paper, I suggest to engage and problematise postcoloniality in contemporary architectural theory. I shall discuss a comparative analysis amongst architecture and urbanism strategically observed in Singapore and Taiwan with a critical literature review. I contend that a theorisation of the postcoloniality of architecture in urban maritime Asia suggests a new épistémè which, through a view from historical materialism, transcends the limitations noticed in current global scholarship of architectural theory.

NEW GAME CHANGER POWER IN EURASIA: SHANGHAI COOPERATION ORGANIZATION

The Eurasian geography is a strategic intersection for great powers which are currently interested in the region. After the collapse of the USSR, the Russian Federation seemed to slow down politically between 1990 and 2000 to regain its lost power and maintain its influence in the region. Geography continues to impact states’ survival and foreign policies in the Eurasian region. After the Cold War, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization became one of the critical organizations in the Eurasian region. The paper discusses the organization’s influence and power in the region’s geopolitical significance. Its methodology will be a comparative literature interpretation on the axis of qualitative data. The study assumes that this region remains a game-changer where great powers focus. The paper also evaluates the latest situation based on regional and global developments.

THE GEOPOLITICS OF GILGIT-BALTISTAN: ANALYSING INDIA, PAKISTAN, AND CHINA PERSPECTIVES

The region of Gilgit-Baltistan, of significant strategic significance, has been a topic of contention between India and Pakistan since their respective declarations of independence in 1947. The territory stated above, located in the northernmost part of Pakistan, plays a vital role as a key gateway to the Central Asian region. It is generally seen as an important geopolitical asset due to its near proximity to China's Xinjiang province. This article provides a thorough analysis of the contemporary geopolitical dynamics in Gilgit-Baltistan, with a focus on the historical backdrop, the current political and economic circumstances, and the possible implications for the security and stability of the region. The region of Gilgit-Baltistan, located in the northernmost part of Pakistan, has considerable strategic importance. The region in issue, which shares borders with China, Afghanistan, and India, has a complex and contested historical context that has had a substantial influence on its contemporary political and economic conditions. The territory of Gilgit-Baltistan has attracted considerable attention in recent years due to its strategic location along the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and its crucial role as a gateway to Central Asia. The objective of this essay is to provide a thorough analysis of the strategic importance of Gilgit-Baltistan, including its historical background, geopolitical significance, and prospective implications for regional security and stability. The region of Gilgit-Baltistan, located in the Himalayas and Karakoram mountains, has acquired considerable geopolitical significance due to its strategic location and contested legal standing. The perspectives of India, Pakistan, and China about Gilgit-Baltistan provide valuable insights into the intricate interaction of interests, historical narratives, and geopolitical strategies that shape the dynamics of the region. This article engages in a comprehensive analysis of the viewpoints espoused by three influential actors, evaluating the possible ramifications for the stability of the region. The geopolitical landscape of Gilgit-Baltistan is a complex and intricate puzzle, characterised by the intricate interaction of historical narratives, strategic considerations, and regional dynamics. The Indian position focuses considerable stress on the notion of sovereignty, whereas Pakistan's standpoint is largely centred on the concept of self-determination. In contrast, China's approach is primarily focused on the concepts of connectivity and economic growth. Given the convergence and intersection of the aforementioned perspectives, the trajectory of the region's future remains ambiguous, thereby making it an illustrative instance of broader global dynamics concerning power struggles and cooperative endeavours.

The nontrivial approach or how physicians-bolsheviks treated kings. The Soviet medicine in the Arabian peninsula in 1920-1930s

In the late 1920s, the USSR intensified its international activities in the Arabian Peninsula. The rapprochement with Arab monarchies provided opportunity to study political, economic and ethno-cultural characteristics of region by organizing transit of pilgrims to Mecca through the Soviet territory and providing medical care in first-aid posts at diplomatic missions. The Soviet physicians, in atypical situation of Arab monarchies, played important role as intermediaries between royal courts and the Soviet government, serving as agents of "soft power". The article considers causes of Moscow geopolitical interest to this region in 1920s-1930s. The distinctions of interaction between Soviet physicians and ruling circles of Hijaz and Yemen were explored. The humanitarian, cultural and geopolitical significance of these activities were examined. The article considers and explains, through optics of geopolitical approach, situational rationality that was applied by medical men when approaching treatment of royal personages despite ideological mismatch of this work with Bolshevism dogmas. The article consistently demonstrates, noting non-triviality of both locus itself and approaches to organization of medical care, how professionalism of Soviet physicians gained confidence of monarchs of Hijaz and Yemen in complicated conditions of competition with highly qualified physicians from Western Europe. It is emphasized that in conditions of Arabia, ideological attitudes had secondary importance, while such qualities as personal charisma and medical professionalism, which created solid reputation foundation for Soviet physicians, came to foreground.

О хартленде и роли России в евразийском пространстве

Based on the works of domestic and foreign authors, the connection between geography and the history of the development of the state is shown. The geopolitical significance of Eurasia and the Eurasian «supporting territory» is highlighted. The place of Russia in Mackinder's «axis» theory is shown. A historical review of the factors of Russian Westernization is made. The reasons for turning to the Asian vector are presented. Territorial and geographical prerequisites and the accumulated cultural and historical background are considered as a potential for interstate cooperation and Russia's mediating role in Eurasia.

The biopolitics of Chinese tourism governance in the Arctic

ABSTRACT Scholarly attention to China's domestic experimentation and control measures applied to its population (e.g. the Family Planning Policy and Zero-Covid) has expanded. So, too, has the popularity of the Foucauldian concept of biopolitics, which refers to political strategies of governing based on a population's biological features. However, China's biopolitical rationales for its growing participation in global governance (全球治理 quanqiu zhili) beyond its borders have received less attention. This research focuses on the Arctic, a region where China does not claim territorial sovereignty but has significant involvement, to examine the Chinese state's exertion of biopolitical control over its outbound tourist population. Drawing on a review of policy texts and media reports, complemented by observations at an Arctic conference held in China and three field visits to the Arctic in 2018–2019, we show how China's interventions in Arctic tourism seek to transform Chinese tourists into a productive, self-disciplining population who practice and promote state logics of social and environmental responsibility. The paper contributes to the understanding of tourism governance in frontier regions with geopolitical significance, as well as the modern state's exterritorial power over its own citizens even when they are beyond its sovereign territory.

Power Struggle in South Asia Region: Hanging between Soft and Hard Balance Competition

The South Asia region has been the focus of attention due to its strategic location and geopolitical significance. It is home to two nuclear-armed rivals, India and Pakistan, who have been engaged in a power struggle for decades. The region has also witnessed the growing influence of China and the United States, who are vying for influence in the region. The power struggle in the South Asia region can be understood in terms of a balance competition between soft and hard power. Soft power is the ability to attract and co-opt rather than coerce, while hard power is the use of military and economic coercion to achieve objectives. India has traditionally relied on soft power to expand its influence in the region. It has used its cultural and economic ties to build relationships with its neighbors. However, in recent years, India has also been building up its military capabilities, particularly in response to China's growing influence in the region. Pakistan, on the other hand, has relied more heavily on hard power, particularly its military, to project influence in the region. It has also sought support from China, which has provided economic and military aid. China's growing influence in the region is seen as a challenge to both India and the United States. China has been expanding its economic and military ties with countries in the region through its Belt and Road Initiative. The United States has also been seeking to expand its influence in the region through its Indo-Pacific strategy. The power struggle in the South Asia region is likely to continue for the foreseeable future. The balance between soft and hard power is likely to shift as the regional and global geopolitical landscape evolves. It will be important for countries in the region to find a balance between competing interests and work towards stability and cooperation.

The EU at a Strategic Crossroads: A Geopolitical Player in Great Power Games?

The current shifts in the post-Cold War international order are bringing the attention to notions of great power competition, demonstrating once again the geopolitical significance of Europe and Asia for global politics. This article applies concepts from the classical geopolitical thinking of Halford Mackinder and Nicholas Spykman as an ‘optic tool’ for analysing current global events and for considering the European Union’s (EU’s) strategic direction in light of the interests of the United States, Russia, and China in Europe’s wider region. With the American post-Cold War global preponderance steadily waning and the rising challenges from the east in the face of Russia and China, the EU finds itself in a position that requires the redefinition of its geopolitical identity and strategic pursuit of its own interests. A look through the classical geopolitical concepts of the Heartland and the Rimland reveals that the EU is an extraordinary player in geopolitics as it has the potential to determine (1) access to the Eurasian Heartland via its influence over Eastern Europe and (2) control of the maritime Rimland by virtue of its geography, alliances, and its potential participation in Beijing’s New Silk Road initiative. These findings are discussed by considering the EU’s potential foreign policy directions vis-à-vis the US, Russia, and China. European Union, United States, Russia, China, Eurasia, Geopolitical theory, Foreign policy, Grand strategy, Strategic Autonomy

Cyber Cases: The PICCA Framework for Documenting Geopolitically Relevant Cyber Action

This article presents a novel framework called the Policy Informative Cyber Case Analysis for cyberattack incidents. The aim of this framework is to provide a structured documentation and translational assessment tool for cyber incidents of geopolitical significance to a broader policy audience. The article discusses case study method as applied to cyber incidents, situates the framework amongst other useful methods, discusses the application of structured analytic techniques (SAT) such as “chronologies and timelines” and “devil’s advocacy,” presents the framework, and provides conclusions. Cyber incident cases, primarily the 2015 attack on the Ukrainian electric-grid is used throughout to elucidate the utility and application of the framework.

AGGRESSION AGAINST GEORGIA AND UKRAINE: CONTEXT AND PARALLELS

AGGRESSION AGAINST GEORGIA AND UKRAINE: CONTEXT AND PARALLELS

THE OLD RUSSIAN LITERARY AND FOLK-POETIC GENESIS OF THE NOTE “RUSSIA HAS NO PAST…” IN THE CONTEXT OF MIKHAIL LERMONTOV’S HISTORIOSOPHY

The subject of the study is Lermontov’s historiosophy, expressed by the poet in the note “Russia has no past…” from the “Notebook presented by V. F. Odoevsky.” The article’s purpose is to identify the ancient Russian and folk-poetic genesis of Lermontov’s note, contributing to the clarification of its semantic content. The figurative system, style and the very substantive essence of the note “Russia has no past…” was formed under the direct influence of ancient Russian texts, adaptations of literary folklore, and the experience of the poet’s personal meeting with representatives of folk culture. The authors propose to consider Lermontov’s sketch an allegorical figure, where the Russian Empire is likened to a mighty hero. In a brief summary of the plot, the poet reflects his understanding of the entire essence of the country’s historical path. As possible sources of the note, the article names the heroic tales in V. Levshin’s literary adaptation, which were popular at the turn of the 19th century, as well as the Caucasian version of the tale about Yeruslan Lazarevich, which existed among the Terek Cossacks. Analogies are drawn between Lermontov’s sketch and the cycle of historical songs about the capture of Kazan, using similar allegories to reveal the theme, as well as the “Kazan History” short novel, the appeals to which are linked to the geopolitical significance of the historical event for the development of the entire old Russian state and, in particular, for the strengthening of its eastern borders. Lermontov’s concept of history is based on his personal perception of historical time, and on the literary, specifically, old Russian, tradition, which is reflected both in the ancient literary monuments and in folklore, which has historical sources. In the note Lermontov looks at the world through the eyes of the people, and is the exponent of the national idea about the spiritual choice of the Russian state.

A critically analysis of Gwadar port in the changing maritime scenario

ABSTRACT The port of Gwadar is the backbone of the CPEC project. This research posits the geo-economics and geopolitical significance of Gwadar port for China and Pakistan. A qualitative research approach is used to analyze Gwadar port in the changing maritime scenario. This research has adopted a unique geo-economics theory approach to comprehensively examine Gwadar port's significance in China and Pakistan's economic and political relations. The study is based on geopolitical, and economic determinants for the geo-economics, geopolitical, and maritime security significance of Gwadar port. Official reports and government documents are used for data analysis. The findings show that Gwadar port could be a solution to the economic security targets of China and Pakistan. China will gain economic, energy, and maritime security by finding an alternate, more secure route for the supply of oil and export of goods and better access to markets of Central Asia, Europe, and the USA. Moreover, Pakistan is expected to observe a significant rise in maritime trade capacity to support the dwindling economy.

Modern approaches to managing the development of the Arctic zone

The issue of the development of hydrocarbon deposits in the Arctic zone belongs to the category of strategic and urgent. Its solution, in fact, is the use of a chance, the implementation of which would allow to overcome the single-industry specialization of the country, reduce the degree of raw materials orientation and solve structural and technological problems to restore the industrial subsystem. Overcoming these difficulties can be accomplished by revaluing the institutions of post-reform Russia and adjusting them in terms of the synthesis of commercial and statistic approaches to industrial policy. The institutional way of research is new (although it currently has wide variability). The authors, in the form of a worker, chose a statement by L. Thévenot regarding the theory of agreements, which states the presence of seven subsystems (“worlds”) in society that participants in economic transactions encounter. In this context, the purpose of the study is to modernize the management model of the Arctic zone, taking into account both the traditions of institutionalism with its ideas about the strong influence of management institutions on the economy, and the directions of new institutionalism with its theory of agreements. At the same time, as a hypothesis, it is noted that achieving the goal involves analyzing the control object taking into account its basic characteristics, reflecting the real fundamental principle in a specific subsystem. The institutional method of research makes it substantively to answer the question of the role of the state in industrial policy: to determine the nature of the model and the degree of intervention, taking into account the features of the functionality of the management object, its belonging to a certain subsystem, role, geopolitical significance, cycle duration and degree of fusion with other participants in inter-economic relations. According to the theory of agreements, the Arctic zone (as well as other regions of the Far North), according to the authors, belongs to the number of management objects that are organically poorly compatible with universal norms of market behavior. Based on the nature of economic relations in the Arctic zone, we note that subsystems of industrial, ecological, traditional and creative activities are immanent for it. Conclusions are drawn that the provisions of the theory of agreements are a convincing argument for an institutional view of the Arctic zone. Therefore, the solution of the issue of transformation of the economic model of the development of hydrocarbon deposits in the Arctic zone in the context of the proposed synthesis of commercial and statistic approaches is of particular importance.

The Second Russia – Africa Summit and Economic and Humanitarian Forum: New Global Architecture

The article explores issues high on the agenda of the second Russia – Africa Summit and Economic and Humanitarian Forum. The authors give an overview of thematic sessions, important political agreements, summarize the main results of the Summit and Forum, and discuss the provisions of the final declaration. Guided by Irina Abramova, Director of the Institute for African Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the authors took part in the preparation of a number of sessions and materials for the Forum. The article details the most important work of the entire Institute in this area. The authors conclude that the scale of the Second Summit and Forum is determined not only by the number of participants and signed agreements, but also by the geopolitical significance of the event in a broad international context and contribution to the formation and establishment of a more equitable architecture of the world order. African countries, as well as the African Union (AU), are increasingly loudly and clearly declaring their international agency, which is in the interest of Russia. The main political issues raised during the Summit and Forum, such as international agency, fight against neocolonialism and strive for multipolarity, will determine the agenda of Russia – Africa cooperation in the long term.

Eurasian Mirror: New Perspectives on The Russia-China Border

In parallel to the postsocialist transformations and growing geopolitical significance of the Russia-China relationship, recent years have seen a surge of interest among Anglophone scholars in the Sino-Russian border and the borderland region around it. Working against a perspective focused on the language and decision-making of the political center, the books under review train their ethnographic and historical focus on specific local case studies to illuminate the Russia-China border as a site that produces, reveals, and sustains difference. At the same time, the border region emerges as a zone where the agency of the particular, the local, and the exceptional can assert itself against dominant, normative, or centralizing forces. Read together, these studies present the Sino-Russian border as both the key to the relationship and the space of its exceptions.

SECURITY CHALLENGES TO SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC PROGRESS IN THE MIDDLE EAST

Purpose. The aim of the article is to assess the main security challenges in the Middle East, determine their impact on economic development and social progress in the region, and outline priorities for ensuring the social and economic development of countries in current conditions. Methodology of research. The methodological basis of the study is based on a dialectical approach. A combination of general scientific and special research methods was used to achieve the set goal, ensuring the reliability of the results: historical-logical method – to substantiate the historical nature of security challenges in the Middle East, system analysis method, methods of induction and deduction – for formulating hypotheses and conclusions about the impact of security challenges on social progress in the region, comparative method – to identify differences in the economic development of Middle Eastern countries, graphical visualization method. Findings. It is substantiated that the Middle East is a region of geopolitical significance but is also characterized by a complex interaction of external influences and security challenges. The main external influences in the Middle East are systematized and classified. The main security challenges in the Middle East are identified and detailed. The main factors of tension in the countries of the Middle East are revealed. The role of external actors in deepening tensions in the region is confirmed, and attention is focused on the growth of regional competition. The geopolitical landscape of the Middle East is characterized by regional rivalry for power, especially between Iran and Saudi Arabia. It is argued that problems in the social and economic sphere are an additional source of instability in the region. The level of unemployment in Middle Eastern countries is analysed, and attention is focused on the need to reduce the proportion of unemployed youth. Significant differences between countries in the region in terms of GDP per capita are confirmed. An assessment of the impact of security challenges in the region on the social progress of countries and the identification of the main dependencies are conducted. Originality. The main factors of tension in the Middle East region are identified, and the main external influences on the Middle East, which can have historical, political, economic, cultural, and religious character, are detailed. Further development is given to identifying the consequences of the intervention of external actors in the domestic policy of countries, leading to the aggravation of the security situation in the region. The impact of security challenges on the economic development of countries, which has significant inequality, is argued and the level of impact on ensuring social progress is assessed. Practical value. The substantiated results of the study and the obtained conclusions can be used in determining the strategic vectors of the social and economic development of countries in the context of security challenges and external influences. Key words: security challenges, geopolitical competition, regional actors, external influences, Middle East, economic development, unemployment, GDP per capita, social progress, Global Terrorism Index, Democracy Index, Peace Index, Corruption Perceptions Index.

The state and prospects of the development of the Mekong problem

The problem of water resources in international relations is one of the most discussed since the second half of the last century. Since the mid-1960s, water consumption in the world has more than doubled and continues to grow. This makes fresh water one of the most important factors influencing the international and domestic political situation. In the Greater Mekong subregion, this problem is already one of the main ones. The main reasons for this are rapid economic and demographic growth, as well as changing climatic conditions. The situation is complicated by the geopolitical significance of the region, which makes it a place of struggle for influence from global and regional players. The paper notes the role of the Mekong River in the economy of the countries of the subregion, because the contradictions between them are the main cause of international processes related to the river. The author also noted the influence on the situation from the leading world powers and the possibility of smoothing the problem from Russia.

Советский геополитический проект в МНР и проблемы демографии в середине 1920-х – начале 1940-х гг.

Introduction. The Soviet-Mongolian public health cooperation was a major component of the Soviet project (with geopolitical motives) aimed at modernizing the nomadic society. The Soviet shaping of Mongolia’s public health institutions not only yielded an efficient tool of soft power and neutralized competition from other medical systems, but also set the stage for the country’s demographic well-being in subsequent periods. Goals. The article aims at highlighting some pivotal points of medical efforts undertaken to improve the MPR’s demographic situation in the 1920s to 1940s. Materials and methods. The study analyzes documents housed at the State Archive of the Russian Federation and the Russian State Archive of Sociopolitical History, examines some unpublished dissertations authored by Mongolian and Russian physicians. The employed research methods include the retrospective, comparative, and geopolitical ones. Results. In the 1920s to 1940s, the key problems of Mongolia’s demography were social diseases, primarily syphilis and gonorrhea, that reduced reproductive capacities and caused increased infant mortality, these having been aggravated by traditional obstetric practices and unsanitary conditions of nomadic life. The former were adversely affecting the entire course of socialist modernization and hindering socioeconomic development of the nation. The anti-venereal disease campaign, establishment of maternity and child health services, development of pre-schools, and health education for women laid the early groundwork for a dramatic health transition. Conclusions. The efforts of Soviet physicians at earliest stages of the MPR’s healthcare system development ensured the growth of demographic indicators in the 1940s–1960s, namely: a two-fold decrease in infant mortality paralleled by increased birth rates, and a population growth of 60 %. So, all that served a basis for the comprehensive implementation of Mongolia’s socialist modernization project, which had geopolitical significance both for the Soviets and the MPR, the latter to have become a full member of the UN and the CMEA after 1961.